Established in 1968 as the Australian Kidney Foundation, Kidney Health Australia has a long tradition of supporting kidney research in Australia. In fact, since 1968 Kidney Health Australia has raised funds and distributed more than $30 million towards kidney research in Australia.

In 2016-2017 Kidney Health Australia conducted a review of our research grant system, during which we consulted widely with people affected by kidney disease, major kidney research groups, and others interested in kidney-related medical and scientific research.

The previous process of funding, which invited applications for project grants and scholarships to commence the following year, was suspended in 2015 at the beginning of this review process.

As a result of our review, Kidney Health Australia Research has undergone a transformation with a focus on community participation, a research agenda endorsed by our community, and organisationalcollaboration. Our long-standing commitment to research funding continues unchanged.

In line with Kidney Health Australia’s focus on its community we have been looking to our community to tell us what they think are the important research topics we should be supporting. Therefore, rather than support a number of different research topics, in the future we are going to support a specific research agenda as prioritised by the Australian kidney community.

We are also using our strong community base to build a network of consumers that want to be involved in all aspects of research from conception to involvement in clinical trials.

In line with Kidney Health Australia’s focus on collaboration we have been working closely with other Australasian research organisations, including the Research Advisory Committee of ANZSN, BEAT CKD and AKTN to name but a few, with the aim of forming a unified Australasian research voice.

KHA will start to support kidney research in the last quarter of 2017 in the form of a pilot to ensure the robustness of our new structure. Expressions of Interest for program funding that is aligned with our research agenda will be available towards the end of 2017.

Moving forward we will then be in the position to seek more substantial funding for the program and so support further research from 2018 and beyond.

If you are a researcher and would like to register to receive updates about Kidney Health Australia Research, please email research@kidney.org.au.

If you are a person affected by kidney disease and would like to help shape the future of kidney research by getting involved in any aspect research (including development of research, member of consumer councils, participation in clinical trials), please email research@kidney.org.au.

As a major funder of kidney research outside the National Health and Medical Research Council, we have underpinned the evidence base that drives strategy and policy development for the advancement of public health, with specific regard to kidney health.

Support of kidney research is crucial for:

the long-term improvement of health outcomes for those with, or at risk of, kidney disease

the development of state and federal government kidney-related health policy

building Australia’s evidence base to drive and underpin an accessible and equitable healthcare service.

In funding our research program, we receive support from institutions, organisations and, importantly, individual benefactors.

A notable example is the bequest that enabled the establishment of the Bootle Award Medical Research Grant.

As the Bootle Awards show, a bequest is a simple yet significant way to support the early detection, prevention and treatment of kidney disease. To provide a bequest in your will is to provide a gift for the future. You can read more here.

If you wish to discuss making a bequest to support our research program, please contact: